The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party are paying as much attention to the 25 Seoul district mayoral races as to the Seoul mayoral race. Lawmakers see victory in the district chief contests, which are closely tied to local voter sentiment, as boosting their chances in the general election two years from now.
In this Seoul district chief election, there is an assessment that Democratic Party candidates are generally favored on the back of the national approval trend. However, in the Han River belt, where redevelopment and reconstruction and other dwellings maintenance projects are concentrated, the outcome is expected to hinge on candidate competitiveness apart from party approval ratings.
Seoul district chief elections have moved in tandem with the central political landscape. In the eighth local elections held after former President Yoon Suk-yeol's victory in 2022, the then-ruling People Power Party won in 17 autonomous districts, including the three Gangnam districts and Mapo and Yongsan. The Democratic Party of Korea at the time held on to just eight districts—Nowon, Gangbuk, Geumcheon, Gwanak, Eunpyeong and Jungnang—where it had been strong. In the Han River belt, the party effectively turned in a near-wipeout report card.
In this election, separate from the national approval trend, there is also the possibility that local issues—especially real estate and development—coming to the fore will produce a different vote from the central political landscape. That is why attention is fixed on the Han River belt, where votes are focused on redevelopment and reconstruction and other dwellings maintenance projects.
In "Mayongseong" (Mapo, Yongsan and Seongdong), a representative Han River belt area, the matchups are, in order, Democratic Party candidate Yoo Dong-gyun versus People Power Party candidate Park Kang-su in Mapo; Democratic Party candidate Kang Tae-woong versus People Power Party candidate Kim Gyeong-dae in Yongsan; and candidates Yoo Bo-hwa (Democratic Party) versus Ko Jae-hyeon (People Power Party) in Seongdong.
Democratic Party and People Power Party candidates running in the Mayongseong area have formed a confrontational dynamic by putting forward urban infrastructure development and redevelopment and reconstruction issues. In particular, all Yongsan candidates, where redevelopment is proceeding actively, pledged as their No. 1 promise to push swift redevelopment and reconstruction and other urban maintenance projects.
In "Nodogang" (Nowon, Dobong and Gangbuk), traditionally seen as a Democratic stronghold, a confrontational dynamic is forming as candidates roll out transportation pledges in addition to dwellings maintenance projects to improve aging residential areas.
In Nowon, Democratic Party candidate Seo Jun-o, a former aide to National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, is facing People Power Party candidate Kim Gwang-su, and in Dobong, the candidates are Kim Dong-uk (Democratic Party) and Oh Eon-seok (People Power Party).
In Gangbuk, where resolving traffic congestion is the key issue, Democratic Party candidate Jeong Chang-su and People Power Party candidate Jang Ji-ho are running, and both have put building a transportation network linking Gangnam and Gangbuk at the center of their pledges.
Another point to watch is whether the People Power Party can hold the "three Gangnam districts" (Seocho, Gangnam and Songpa).
In Seocho, Democratic Party candidate Hwang In-sik is facing People Power Party candidate Jeon Seong-su; in Gangnam, Democratic Party candidate Kim Hyeong-gon is facing People Power Party candidate Kim Hyun-gi; and in Songpa, the matchup is Jo Jae-hee (Democratic Party) versus Seo Gang-seok (People Power Party).
With the exception of People Power Party Seocho candidate Jeon Seong-su, candidates from both parties in these areas are putting redevelopment and reconstruction among their five key pledges.
Democratic Party candidates running in this conservative stronghold are seeking votes with redevelopment and reconstruction pledges, highlighting what they say is an advantage in communication with the central government compared with People Power Party candidates.
Kim Hyeong-gon, the Democratic Party candidate for Gangnam district chief, said, "For residents in Gangnam, apartments account for more than 80% of asset value, so we made redevelopment and reconstruction our No. 1 pledge," adding, "With the president from the Democratic Party and candidate Jeong for Seoul mayor dominating in approval, we judge we have an advantage for swift dwellings maintenance projects."
A Democratic Party official said, "This is an election marking one year since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration," adding, "High national approval will be reflected in the result."
A People Power Party official said, "We see this race as not easy," adding, "However, gauging public opinion through campaign workers, grassroots sentiment appears to show considerable interest in real estate pledges, so we are focusing our stump speeches on real estate."